Mechanism for controlling and operating molding machines



F. J. woo'D 'MECHANISMl FOR CONTROLLING AND PERATINGMOLDING MACHINES 2 shuts-shaun March 8, 1927.

Filed Dec. 2e, 192:5

F. J. WOOD MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING AND OPERATING MOLDING MACHINES March 8,1927. 1,620,050

Filed'nec. 2e. v1925 `2 Sheng-sheet 2 Patented Man 8, 1927.

unir .raras FRANZ J. VOOD, DES MONES, IGK/VA.,r

MECHANISM FOB CONTROLLNG ANI) OPERATING MULIDING MACHINES.

Application filed-'December 26, 1923. Serial No. 682,738.

This invention relates toimprovements in molding machines employing pneumatic means for moving the mold supportingy frame towardl the pattern frame and having means whereby the movement of the mold supporting frame from the pattern frame is adjustably retarded. I have found in actual practice that this movement should be comparatively slow at the time the patterns are being drawn from the mold, and as soon as the patterns have been loosened the molding frame may be moved `very rapidly, thereby eliminating considerable time in this operation.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of my present invention to provide improved means for controlling the mold supporting frame, whereby it will be lfirst moved slowly away from the pattern frame and then moved comparatively rapidly.

A further object of my invention isrto provide in a molding machine means whereby the mold and pattern frames may be adjusted to be exactly in parallel relation with each other, so that the sand will be uniformly packed within the mold.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated. are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a` vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of the air cylinder, showing in detail` section the valve mechanism for controlling the action of the cylinder, and also therapping mechanism. l

i Figure 2 is a detail View showing the valve of said mechanism in another position of its movement.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail, segmental view of'one of the supporting frame members, showing a portion of the controlling mechanism attached thereto and in operative relation with the valve mechanism.

Figure a shows a segmental view of the main frame, showing the mold supporting frame and a portion of the mechanism for elevating the same, and the manner in which the adjusting means for said table is applied thereto.

Figure 5 is a segmental plan viewpof one end of the pattern frame, and a plan view of that portion ofthe frame illustrated in Figure 3, showing the manner in which the improved mechanism fortilting Vthe said pattern frame is applied thereto.

` Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line @M6 of Figure 5. y

Figure 7 is a vertical, sectional view Vof my machine, the lower portion of which is taken on the line r1-T of Figure 4; and" Figure S is a detail sectional view taken on the line S-8 of Figure 7.

My invention relates to improvements in molding machines, and particularly to thaty type of molding machines illustrated and described in my issued Patents, Number 1,451,- 249, dated April 10, 1923, and Number- 1,492,912, dated May G, 1924. Y v

Inasmuch as the present invention relates to improvements inv molding machines illustrated and described in the above mentioned patents, only fragmental sections of the moldingmachine areillustrated, those portions which particularly bear on my invention.

The machine in general comprises a l() having upright supports 12, the upper ends `of which have pivotally mounted be-4 base tween them the mold supporting frame 13. v

This frame is provided with means not illustrated, whereby a' mold may be clamped to either its upper or lower surface, the

frame being adapted to rotate to` a horizon- Y tal position with either side uppermost, andv when in operation tosupport the mold frame from its under surface. The pattern is carried by the frame 33 which is mounted in such a manner as to be'moved toward and fromthe mold frame,'the pattern frame 33 being carried on a set of rollers 72, said rollers being arranged in pairs, each pair being designed to carry one end .of the pattern frame. Each pair of rollers is mounted Von an arm 70 which in turn is mounted on a rock shaft G5, said` rock shaft being rotatively mounted in the base 10 in such a manner that the arm'TO may bel moved` from a horizontal position to' substantially a vertical position, and to carry therewith `the roller 72 and to elevate and lower the frame vThe shafts 65 areV each provided with an operating arm y66, said arms being 1u substantially a common plane with the arm 70,

said plane extending longitudinally through the shaft. The arms 66 are actuated by means of links 67 .which extendk inwardly toward each other and have their adjacent ends pivotally connected to a cross head l68.

The said heads 68 are designed to travel on Vguide devices which comprise a plate 124 secured to the member 10 at a point vertically between the shafts 65. Adjnstably cured to said plate 124 is a pair of rearwardly extending flanges 125, each of which is provided with flanges 126. Each oi? the flanges 126 is provided with slots 12T, said slots being, designed to receive bolts 128 by means o1z which said ilanges are adjustably Secured to the plate 124. The said plate l2-l is also provided near its lower end with rearwardly extending lugs 129, each of Vwhich hasa set screw 130, said set screw being designed to engage the outer surface. ofthe flanges 125; The upper ends of the plate 124 are provided with similar' ings 131 'having set screws 132. The flanges 125 are always arranged parallel to each other and `space'd'to receive the cross head member 66,

saidv cross head'being designed to carry an lupwardly extending piston rod 51.`

The upper end of the rod 51 is provided with a piston 49 designed to operate in a vertically arranged cylinder 47, said piston `will be seen that the npper end ot the crank 'arms 66 will be moved slightly either to the right or to the lett; VThis movement will cause one end of the platform 3?) to be slightly elevated above the other and 'when at its upper limit ofmovement the squeezing" of 4the sand takes place. This provides means for tilting the platform tor alinement with the mold frame. i

Y For actuating the piston 49 l have provided a supply V pipe 64 which is designed to convey air under pressure.V For connectingY the pipe 64 is a T 78, one branch ot which is connected to a valve casing 54, while its other branch is connected tothe upper end of a Viiexible hose 104. The lower end ot the hose 1041s provided with a valve mech- .anismA 105 having an upwardly extending valve stem 106 which controls the valve 107, said valve being normallyrheld closed by Y means olI a spring' 108.' The valve mechanism is connected to a'pipe 109 secured to the upright support 12. The opposite endfof the pipe 109 is connected to a pneu'- matic rapper or vibrator A110 which is of the nsnal construction, saidV rapper being secured to the upright 12 at the point 111.

The valve casing 54 is provided with an oscillating valve 55 and ports 56, 58 and 61, the valve 55 also being provided with ports 57 and 60. The port 60 is provided with a port 59. rlhe said casing is provided with a passa 5e communicatin;l with thc T 'T8 and a passage 'comnninicating'with a second "i" 100. The "l" 100 is connected to the upper end ot' a horrible hose 106 which is provided at its lower end with a valve device 112 similar to the valve device 105 having ak downwardly extending stem 113 in alinement with. the stem 106. The valve 112 is secured to an exhaust pipe 114 which is also mounted on the support 12. Pivotal y mounted at one edge of the support. 12 l have provided a lever 115 hiv-,fing a pivot 116. One end of the lever 115 provided with an enlarged portion 117 which rests between the ends of the stem members 106 and 113 in such arme-inner that Iit may actuate either of them when the free end oi the lever is elevated or lowered. '.l'h-c enter end of the lever 115 is provided with an adjustable weight 118and also a laterally extendingr'pin 119.

l'zivotally mounted. to the inner fac-e ot the member 12 by means ot' a pivot 120 l have provided an angular lever 121 having a hook portion 122 designed to engage the pin 119 when the weighted end ot the lever 115 is atits elevL Led position of movement and the member 117 in engagement with the valve 106. The lower end of the lever 121 is provided with a roller 123, said lever 121 beine; vso mounted that the roller will oscillate back and forth across the path ot' travel oit the lne' 38, extended from the member 33, as the said platform 33 is elevated and lower d.

ri'he device is in a normal position when the piston 49 and the'platform are their lower position of movement. and the weighted end of the lever 115 is also in lowered position ot movement with the enlarged portion 117 engaging the valve memi' i ber 118, holding` the valve therein in an open position, and the valve 55 is in the position shown in Figure 1 with the port 57 in coininuniration with the'l' 78 and Jthe port 56. the last said port being provided with vthe pipe which is connected to the lower end oif the cylinder47, and the port 60 is in communication with the l 100 and the port saidV port 58 being' provided with a pipe 53 ronnecting the upper end of the cvlindcr Y 49. andthe port 59 the port 61.

The i' 100 is also provided with a valve casing 101 having: a valve 102, said valve is in communication with 102 being' set form a slow leak 'for the purpose hereinafter mede clear.

lll hen it is desired to elevatethe platform 33. air will be caused to enter the pipe 64 and pass thronejh the passage 57er the valve` and enter the lower end oi the cylinder through the pipe 52, causing Vthe piston 4T to be elevated and with it the platform 33. The lug 38 will then be moved upwardly through the groove 39 past the roller 123 until the platform 33 has reached its upper limit of movement and the lug 38 has engaged the under side of the lever 115j moving' its weighted end to an elevated position. Then this has happenedV the squeezing` of vthe sand has taken place, and the enlarged CII portion 117 of the lever 115 willihave engaged the stem 106, opening the valve 107 and permitting' air to enter through the pipe 104C7 thence through the pipe 109 to the yrapper 110.k This will continue until the valve has been reversed to the position shown in Figure 2. said valvebeine actuated by mechanism not illustratedk in the drawings. The port. 57 is then in communication with the port 58 and the T 78, while the port 60 is in communication with the port 56 and the T 100. The pipe 52 `is then placed'in an exhaust position with the T 100` the valve 112 being closed. A portion of the air from the cylinder will `graduallyv escape through the passage of the valve member 101` the speed of which may he regulated by adjusting' the valve v102. This will permit the piston 49 to move downwardly very slowly and also the pattern frame 33. permitting the patterns to be slowly withdrawn from the mold. The lug 38 will also move downwardlyA and disengage the lower edge of the lever 115. the lever being locked in its elevated position by the hook 122 engaging the pin 119. The lug` 38 will move downwardly until it enga-ges the roller 23 at which time the hook 122 will disengae'e the pin 19 and the vweight 118 will move theV lever downwardly. causingv the member 117 to again engage the valve stem 113 and open the valve 112. This permits the free exhaust of the air from the lower portion ot the cylinder. permitting` the piston and the pattern platform to be lowered very rapidly. the said piston being forced downwardly h v air pressure on its top surface in addition to the wein/ht of the parts.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved means whereby the mold table may be moved down ,gradually on its initial movement` then rapidly on the last part of its movement. and means whereby the rapper may be automat-icallyT thrown out of operation at the proper time.

t will be seen that I have provided means whereby the ends of the pattern frame may be elevated or lowered a slight distance to cause them to assume parallel relation with the mold longitudinally.

For movi-nrr the two members into parallel relation laterally. I have provided the following mechanism:V It will be seen that the mold frame 13 is pivotally mounted in the upper ends of the members 12 by pivot members 22` As before described, the said frame the recess 21. The 'block 138 is provided with flanges137 on'its outer end, designed to engage the end of the member 13, and with -an inwardly extending portion 138 considerably narrower than the slot 134, the' block being secured in position by means of setscrews 139. n

It will thus be seen that the pattern frame 13 may be made to assume a tilted position when rocked about the pivot centers ofthe said frame. and about a pivot center at right angles to the pivotal movement of the frame This further provides means for adjusting the molding and pattern frames above referred to, inasmuch as it will be seen that by adjusting' the set screws 139 the edge of the frame 13 may be adjusted relative to the locking' position of the block 38.`

Thus it will be seen that I havevprovided improveniients for my patents which will enable me to, first, produce a more uniform packing of the sand within the mold(` and second,'increase the speed of the operation of the device.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a molding machine, a main frame,a pattern frame mounted on said main frame, a mold table, pneumatic means for raising and lowering' said mold table, said means in-l cludinirl automatic means whereby the mold table 'will be moved upwardly at an accelerated speed. and automatic means `for moving` the mold table downwardly at Aan accelerated speed different from that produced by its upward movement. the first part of theV downward movement 'beine` compa-ratively slow, and the remainder of the downward movement quite rapid.

2. In a molding' machine, a main frame,

be moved in one direction at a uniform speed 'Y and in the opposite direction at varied speeds, said lever mechanism being adapted to move'the pattern frame at accelerated speeds relative to the speed of said pneumatic means.

3. In a molding machine, a main frame, a: pattern frame mounted on said main frame, a mold table, and means for elevating and lowering said mold table, comprising an air chamben a piston, a compound lever device operativelyV connecting' said piston and said mold table, means for supplying air to said piston to move it upwardly at a uni-` form speed', and arranged to permit the piston to lower first at a comparatively slowV i speed, and then at av comparatively rapid f the platform relative tolower; lirst at a comparatively slow speed,

and then at a comparatively rapid speed, the sardcompo-nnd lever devices being designed to impart' an accelerated Speed to the platform relative tothe speed oflsaid piston, and meansior rappingsaid mold table at the time the mold table has reached its upper limit of movement and is being moved downwardly at its slow Speed. y i

V5.111 a molding machine, a main frame, a pattern frame. mounted on saidY main traine, a mold table, means tor eleva-ting and lowering said mold table, comprisingl an air chamber, a piston,a compound lever device operatively connecting said piston and said mold table, means for supplying air to said pistoni to move it upwardlyv :at a unitorm speed, and arranged to permit the piston to lower first atV a comparatively slow speed,

. and then at a comparatively rapid speed, the

said compound lever devices being designed `to impart an accelerated speed to the platform relative to the speed of said piston,

' means for rapping said mold table at the time the mold table has reached its ripper limit ofmovementand is being moved down wardly at its slow speed, and means for antoniatically throwing said rapping mechanism into and out .of operative relation with the aio resaid mechanism.

6. In a molding machine, a main frame, a

mold frame, a .pattern traine adapted to move toward and from said mold frame,

means for moving said pattern frame comprising a pair of parallel rock shaft-s, a pair oi' rock arms for each of said shafts, one oi the roel: armsot each of said shafts being designed to engage the lower surface of said pattern fra-me and to elevate the same by swinging from a horizontal to a vertical po-V sitio-n, the other pair oit said rock arms being provided with inwardly extending links having their inner ends connected to a cross head, means ioiyguiding said cross head to travel in a substantially vertical path, and means for elevating and lowering said cross head.

'l'. In a molding' machine, a main frame, a mold trame, ar pattern frame adapted to move .toward and from said mold trame, means fornioving said pattern Vframe com prising a pair ot parallel rock shafts, a pair oi rock arms. for each of said shafts, one of the roch arms of each of said shafts being designed to engage the lower Surface of said pattern trainev and to elevate the. same by swingingfrom a. horizont-al to a `vertical positiomthe other pair of said rock arms being provided with inwardly extending links having tlierrinner ends connected to a cross head, means for guiding'said cross head to travel in a substantially vertical path, means for elevating and lowering saidcross head, and means 'for shifting one end vof said guiding means from the true vertical position tor Vthe purpose oi' .alining' said pattern trame with said mold frame.

DesMoines, Iowa, November 2:2, 1925.

FRANZ J. WOOD. 

